New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-18
MURDER, NOT ACCIDENT.
A RAILROAD HORROR IN WASHINGTON.
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE MANY PERSONS KILLED
AND woUNDED-PARTIcULARs OF THE II
DISASTER. .

DISASTER.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrnuNE.S
WASHINGTON. Aug. 17-Another so-calIed "ac.
cdent" on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
within the city limits of Washington, at an early
hour this morning, caused the death of one person.
the probable fatal woundng of two Others, and in.
juries more or less serious to sixteen or eighteen
more.
The following is believed to be full list of the
dead and injured:
BRosIps, HAMILTON. the engineer; his home was IN
INJURED.
BAXTER; WILLIAM telegraph operator, Washington,
BEARD, AUGUSTA. and child. Cincinnati bruised.
BESs' BBESsoS' WiLLIAM Winchester: Ind badly bruised
BUCK, WILHELM. Cincinnati; head cut.
BUCK, Mrs. MARY, Cincinnati; shocked.
EucHs. F. j.. Cincinnati bruised badly
HEALEY JOSEPH Washington; seriously injured
AoCh, ChaRLEs, Cincinnati; injured In the bach II
RocH. Mrs CHARLES. Cincinnati; slightly shocked
MORRISON CHARLES Cincinnati injured in the back
T,rn sMITH, H., fireman. Cincinnati both legs broken.
TUCK FRANCIS j., Cincinnati; cut in right kaee and
badly bruised.
THOMAS AhBERr Washington, employed in tho express
car; collar bone and left shoulder injured, severe
scalp wounds and left eye probably destroyed
For the killing of persons at that place and under
such circumstances, the management of that COM
pany should be held crminally responsible Ii was
due, as other accidents" at the same place have
been, to parsimony and reckless disregard for the
safety of human life. The accident" occurred
at what is called the "Y.' about q
fourth of o mile from the station. Tho
stem and one prong OF the "Y - are formed by tAe
double track of the line from Washington to Balti-
more and the other prong by the single track of the
Metropolitan Branch from Washington to Iiarpers
Ferry. The two prongs of the "Y" are connected
by single track which leaves the Metropolitan
Branch by a 45-degree curve almost at a right
angle and strikes the double track at distance OF
some 300 feet, No train can pass into tins short
piece of track from the Metropolitan Branch or
from IT into the latter at speed exceeding ten
miles an hour without the greatest danger to hui
man .ife-and yet all trains which enter the Wash
ngton Station OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
from the West and all through westward trains
are compelled to pass over that short piece OF
track and come INTO the station craofashiou.
This outrageous device was adopted, as the rail-
road company declared at the time, as amere tenn
porary expedient in order to connect the branches
of the road. That was about fourteen years ago.
Since then it has been the cause of more than ono
" accdent"-or murder-before to-day.
Early this morning fast express train FROM the
West came rushing down the Metropolitan Branch
1t Is down grade from point seven miles distant
and place where engineers of passenger locOmo-
tIves are expected TO make up lost time This
train some minutes behind time, and 1t entered
the city limits, at point not half mile distant
from the entrance to the " at speed of fifty or
sixty miles an hour 1t is said that the ar-braks
would not work and that the hand-brakes were not
sufficient TO check the speed of the train although Tho
engineer repeatedly blew the whistle from the
time he reached point two miles distant from ths
scene of the accident" and il is asserted also that
the engineer knew before he entered on the long
down grade that the air brake out of order. As
he is dead the truth probably will never be known
But theories as to the condition of lie b.akes or
the engine are immaterlal. The terrific speed Of
the train and the "Y" for both OF which the man.
ayers of the company are responsible, caused the
accident" The "Y." was devised and used
simply to avoid an expenditure Of money which
was absolutely necessary t. secure the safety oi
the passengers and employees of the road. 1t was
part of the niggardlness which has always gov"
erned the company in its dealings with the
National Capital, where its station buildings
are dark dirty and offensive to ordinary decency
that they would not be tolerated in a sixth rate
Northern town OF course just now, the authori.
ties busy talking about new locks for the stable
from which the horse has been stolen. The Dis
trlct-Attornoy shakes his head soemny aud talks
about "Coroners JuryD and Grand Jury"
in an edifying tone the Citizens Association
is aroused evon " Lord" Ludlow to-day drove
his $500 public horse to the scene of the " acci-
dent" aDd after consultation" with his familiar,
Commissioner Wheatley, sent for the attorney OF
the District Commissioners.
Now, there was fatal accident on this same
"Y" three years ago. which caused good deal Of
indignant talk, and by a singular coincidence
1t was rhree years ago that the Supreme
Court of the United States decided that
the right to the streets of Washington for any
other than the ordinary of streets must proceed
from Congress. For three years, therefore. it has
been within the power of the District Commission
ers to compel the wealthy Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company TO abandon the use of this y"
which Is mere death trap. Why have they not
done sof
The Ill-fated train the st. Louis. Chicago and
Cincinnati express, due here at 6:2O this morning.
The few residents IN the neigbbOrhood Of the Y"
who were up and on the street at $50 witnessed
the startling scene of train of cars leaplng from
the track and rushing with the speed of lightning
and the crash of thunder bolt through brick
house. In an instant the train and the house
were in a heap of ruins, and the track
for some distance was Uttered with DEBRIS
At the curve, nearly mile away. the engineer from
the "Y" began whistling down brakes For
some reason the brakes were not put down. Tho
air brakes 1T stated. did not work and the en-
sineer began blowing his distress whistle for the
brakcmen to put on the regular brakes. Either
the brakemen did not heed the signal or it was not
qiven in time to be of use. for the train Tying at
frlghtful rate came laundering on toward the
sharp curve at the ~" On the south side of the
"Y.p in the little corner made by the intersec-
ton of the tracks was located the railroad slgnat
tower, brick structure three stories high.
where railroad men are employed to regulate tho
signals and the switches at the "Y". When the
train turned the sharp curve of the " with
fearful headwav. the cars behind the engine flew
in an instant there was a wreck. The engine
dragged from the track and ploughng through the
dirt aud mud distance of 80 feet rolled CON.
pletely over. There II lay, giving forth ITS steam
and hot water In great jets. The steam ploughed
M iha dirt ana covered the hoase in front of the